Chronic diseases and health promotion

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Overview - Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment

Poorest countries are the worst affected

80% of chronic disease deaths occur in low and middle income countries

Only 20% of chronic disease deaths occur in high income countries – while 80% occur in low and middle income countries, where most of the world’s population lives. As this report will show, even least developed countries such as the United Republic of Tanzania are not immune to the growing problem.

The problem has serious impact

The burden of chronic disease:

has major adverse effects on the quality of life of affected individuals;

causes premature death;

creates large adverse – and underappreciated – economic effects on families, communities and societies in general.

$558 billion - the estimated amount China will forego in national income over the next 10 years as a result of premature deaths caused by heart disease, stroke and diabetes

Projected deaths by major cause and World Bank income group, all ages, 2005